The British have been long in the habit of treating the Americans contemptuously. It began as long ago as 1757, when _Lord Loudoun_, _General Abercromby_, _Admiral Holborne_, _Admiral Boscawen_, _Lord Colville_, _Sir Jeffry Amherst_, and _General Wolfe_, came over here to cut the wings and tail of the wild descendants of Englishmen, in order to make of them a kind of sea poy soldiery. It is a curious fact, that some of the Scotch highlanders were at that time shot by our Yankee sentinels, because they did not know enough of the English language to give _Jonathan_ the counter-sign! So long ago did mutual contempt begin between the natives of _Old_ England and _New_.
I have already mentioned that all my family, as well as myself, were what they called "_Federalists_," or _fault-finders_, and opposers of _Madison's_ administration; and that I, and all the rest of us, dropt every trait of federalism in the British prisons, where, to call a man a _Federalist_, was resented as the deepest insult. I appeal to _all_ my companions in misery, for the accuracy of this opinion. A man who is willing to expose his life to the balls and bayonets of his country's foes, to the enemies of his government, and to the independence and union of his nation, holds his country and the government of his choice, in higher estimation than his life. Such a man cannot hear the _United States_ and their _President_ spoken of in terms of contempt, without feeling the keenest anguish. This I have felt; and have remarked its effects in the countenances of my insulted comrades. Situated as we are, it would be great imprudence to resent what we are often obliged to hear. Captivity, under British prison-keepers, and British captains of transport-men-of-war, are the proper colleges for teaching the love of our republican government, and attachment to its administration; and they are proper places to make the rankest federalist abjure his errors, and cling to the constituted authorities of the country whose flag he adores, and for whose defence he exposes his life. It is inconceivable how closely we are here pressed together in the cause of our dear country; and in honor of its high officers. Were all the inhabitants of the United States as unanimous in their political sentiments, as we are, in the river Medway, they would all be ready to exclaim, each man to his neighbour,